Mchenry Treasurer In The Clear

Ward Calls For Officials Who Accused Him To Resign

June 10, 1994|By Charles Mount, Tribune Staff Writer.

Veteran McHenry County Treasurer William Ward and his fellow Republicans breathed a sigh of relief Thursday when a county grand jury cleared him of violating state law in his handling of county deposits.

But the rift in the county GOP is far from over, because after he was cleared of any wrongdoing, Ward called for the resignation of two Republican County Board members who have leveled conflict-of-interest accusations against him for three months.

And the grand jury's decision, reached after seven hours of deliberation over two days, also is not expected to warm the chilly feelings that party regulars have for Republican State's Atty. Gary Pack.

Pack defeated incumbent State's Atty. Thomas Baker, a friend of most other GOP officeholders, in the party's 1992 primary. By having to investigate the popular Ward, 64, who was a County Board member from 1963 to 1974 before becoming treasurer in 1988, Pack did not help his standing with longtime party members.

County Board Finance Committee members Michael Brown of Crystal Lake and John Brehmer of Cary charged Ward in March with conflict of interest because he held private stock in two banks where the county deposits about a third of its $32 million in revenues.

Ward eventually sold the 1,700 shares in the two banks, pocketing an $80,000 profit. But Ward insisted that he did nothing wrong, even as Pack turned over his investigation of the treasurer's office to the grand jury.

"I suggest that Brown and Brehmer should resign. The frivolous charges should be refuted by their resignation," he said. "If they are going to accuse good, honest public officials of wrongdoing, then they ought to find something else to do."

Ward, of Harvard, said he had "no special feelings" for Pack. "However, I was disappointed that he took this case to the grand jury because there was no basis for it."

A visibly weary Pack, in announcing the jurors decision, said "the heat is always there" when a public official is being investigated.

"It's never easy to investigate a public official, but nobody tried to put any pressure on me," Pack said. "It was a rough case. It's not easy when there is a perception that the person is a well-liked, well-respected official."

With the investigation behind him, Ward can look ahead to November, when he faces a re-election challenge from Democrat Randy Patterson, 48, a former McHenry alderman who is an auditor and management consultant.

Pack, who has handled five investigations of public officials since taking office two years ago, said he would simply continue to do his job. He does not face re-election until 1996.

"Does it ever end?" Pack said. "It's a no-win situation. You can't worry about it. You just move on to the next case."

Terry Nader, chief of the criminal division under Pack, defended the probe of Ward, saying grand jurors went through the law and evidence, including about 20 documents and treasurer's reports, on allegations that Ward failed to file required investment reports and had a financial interest in the two Woodstock banks.

"The jurors didn't say Ward did nothing wrong-they said there was no evidence of criminal intent, or that he profited personally, and nothing to justify an indictment," Nader said.

"There were factions on the jury that were for and against indicting Ward, but grand jurors appreciate it when a potential defendant appears before them and explains things," said Pack, an assistant state's attorney for 12 years before winning the top spot.

"Ward and (Albert) Jourdan (the county auditor who also testified) both were very professional in their testimony."

The lack of an indictment surprised Michael Caldwell, Ward's attorney.

"I think the jurors went in with a bias. They could have had a mindset that they expected to hear something juicy," Caldwell said. "However, Ward brought in five years worth of reports and showed them that his stock was in the banks' holding companies, which would dilute any influence over the banks themselves."

Brown, who, along with Brehmer, is up for re-election in 1996, said he was "guided by my conscience and a sense of right and wrong."

"I will not back away from that," Brown said. "The debate has been about ethics and open government. Election to the County Board means that you take an oath to uphold the law and be a steward of the public's resources. It has not been fun, and in some cases, it has been painful."

For his part, Ward said he was relieved that the controversy is over for himself and Jeanette, his wife of 43 years.

"We've been under quite a strain. There have been quite a few sleepless nights," Ward said. "This is the first time I've appeared before a grand jury and I hope it's the last time. I think anybody would be apprehensive."